Got oil changed, seized engine :(

[T. Highway]

Jim Lee,

I don't recall the details of your engine rebuild and didn't have time to go back and read through it.

I know that a failed diaphragm in the fuel pump will dilute the oil and take out an engine in a matter of a few minutes. Was the pump rebuild done with new ethanol resistant seals or NOS parts?

Did the water distribution tube get changed out when you had the engine rebuild done? Was the block boiled out after the tube was removed or while the old one was in place?

I'm very curious to see what is found when the head is removed.

Bert

[Carter]

If nothing is found after the head is pulled try removing the pan and checking the bearings which will most likely tell the tale. But before cap nuts and bolts are loosened you might try tapping each cap several times with a small hammer. Good bearings will produce a ringing steel sound while bad ones when struck will produce a dull, not ringing sound. Helps zero in on where the bad bearings are, all ringing then try looking elsewhere, cam bearings?

[RMS]

that sucks jim I feel your pain


that is a lot of oil on those plugs..........junk rings or improperly installed oil control rings on 5 and 6?

[Rich]

Jim Lee,
Sorry to here of this misfortune. It really sucks!
Are there broken rings in 5 and 6. A tear down is the only way to tell.
You can send an oil sample off just to see what comes back.
Rich

[jim lee]

Donno' I've not dug into it yet. Its too soon since I rebuilt it and I haven't forgotten how much work it was to do the first time.

(*#%^%(*@..

-jim lee

[jim lee]

Tim/Tom working on pulling the the truck apart. These two work for me at Left Coast. We didn't have a lot going on and I really didn't want to go through this again so soon. So, I let them have a go at it.



Engine is out and going BACK onto its assembly stand for dis-assebly. (*#*%%&^@!



Pan has been pulled and what do we find?



Looks like we hit pay dirt in the front of the pan. Why didn't this wash down to the sump?



Rod bearing #1, 90 degrees from its original installation position. I guess its been spinning.

Why? We still don't know.

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Jim,

Great pics............thanks for posting. Well........at least you didn't put a rod thru the side of the block......or worse. Now comes the hard part...figuring out why it happened. I'm sure you know the usual suspects, so good luck with that. Looking forward to seeing what you find.

regards,
bob

[jim lee]

The oil fouling of the plugs on cylinders 5 & 6. Seems oil was getting into the vacuum pump and blowing into the intake manifold between these two cylinders. Also found the middle bottom intake nut was loose. Thats the one that is sooo hard to get to to re-torque. Gasket blew out and was blowing junk all over the valve covers.

Here's the bearing that failed.



-jim lee

[jim lee]

Another thing.. Isn't it a no no to shim the oil pressure relief valve? Looks like about 3 washers came out of mine before the valve plunger.

-jim lee

[jim lee]

I think I found the issue. The oil pressure relief plunger was installed backwards.

Sigh

-jim lee

[Cal_Gary]

Oh man that is just terrible. I always go to school when I see these types of posts-reminders to me to check everything out thoroughly to avoid the pain and suffering.

Good luck with the rebuild.
Gary

[MSeriesRebuild]

Just curious if I may ask; did the relief valve get installed backwards, with 3 washers added to increase spring pressure at the rebuild shop or by your people who did final assembly?

[jim lee]

Wasn't us, it was the rebuild shop.

-jim lee

[MSeriesRebuild]

Wasn't us, it was the rebuild shop.

-jim lee

That was exactly the reply I expected.

#1, most rebuild shops don't have a clue about the do's and don'ts of these or most other older engines, so issues such as this are inevitable. Most will not admit that they simply do not have the expertise, and are not willing to take the time to build one correctly. Should they be trusted, I would assume Jim's answer to that is NO, only it is too little, too late at this point.

We get calls fairly frequently inquiring about general cost of an engine build done by us. I always offer some insight of what we do when we build an engine so a person knows what to expect from us. Also a good idea to ask that builder who has the all attractive LOW price the same question, and don't accept the short answer. I hear all to frequently that our cost is too high as compared to what a local shop may have quoted. As always to each his own. The time and detail we put into a build here from the time disassembly takes place until the build up and test run is completed would be total and utter shock to almost all. I'll offer more detail when I have more time just so you can have a better comparison.

#2, a good rule of thumb to remember, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! At least that is true in the majority of cases. I know with us; we are EXTREMELY concerned that we send out products that are the best they CAN be. I can't see why any other business would not be concerned over that; but many seem not to have any concern at all other than pocketing a quick buck, getting it out the door, and hoping they never hear from the guy again.

It will be interesting to hear the response on this one, if Jim chooses to return to the builder's shop and ask questions. I certainly would.

[jim lee]

Well..

The shop was one that specialized in flat head engines and it wasn't a low budget shop. I'd figured I had my bases covered. But, the engine always seemed low on oil pressure and I'd asked about it. The consensus was that old flat heads ran lower pressure so it was probably ok. I didn't press the issue and now I see I should have. Later, when I asked about the engine seizing at 6k miles I got; "Well 6,000 miles? It must have been something else then." When I found the backwards relief valve and the shims?

I sat back and thought about this entire deal. Yes it was his fault this thing died. But really, its some old guy in his mid-late 80s living in a barn. I feel sorry for the guy. I can't bring myself to call him on this. Its not like its going to teach him a lesson he can use later in life. I can take the hit, so I'll let him rest in peace.

In the end I talked to Midwest Military. They had a 10 day turnaround for a new rebuilt engine. The other local machine shop here was a month before they could even look at it. So, I just ordered one from Midwest. I figured they should know how to put one together. Comes with 12k mile guarantee too!

As always, we'll see..

-jim lee